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1979 MGB hesitation

1979 MGB hesitation

I have a 1979 MGB with the original 4 cylinder engine. I bought the car restored 4 years ago. The prior owner indicated that the engine had been rebuilt the year prior (5 years ago). It had the Fireball (or whatever it was called) electric ignition modification on the original distributer. The car began hitching and hesitating and running rough and I found that the plastic sensor in the distributor came loose. I repaired it a couple of times. But the problem kept occurring. So I replaced it with a new distributor (with built in electronics, no points) and removed the Fireball. It runs better (more power on startup) but still hitched and sputtered a bit. I also replaced the ignition coil at that time. I adjusted the carburetor timeing and replaced plugs and wires. The thing still hestitates a bit on exceleration, worse after warming up. Also, after warmed up, when idling at a stoplight the engine will shake periodically while the motor seems to hitch a bit (sort of like a cough or sputter). It does this intermittently, not on a regularly timed schedule. On startup I get some black spray initially out the exhaust. Also, it is somewhat slow to start, even if it has been running awhile. I am racking my brain trying to decide what to look at next. Anyone have any idea where I should go next on this car?

Re: 1979 MGB hesitation

Scratch the fuel regulator, put one on and after adjusting 1 through 6 psi, left me on the road, good thing I took a piece of copper tubing with me so as to remove the regulator and hook the fuel line back up or wouldn't have make it home.

Britt engineering is a true challenge, there is always something to mess with.

Re: 1979 MGB hesitation

Finialy fixed the problem, it was in the timing, moved to 32 degrees of TDC (turned my electronic ignition distributor clockwise a few degrees until found proper timing by trial and error and then used a timing light to check). Should have gone to University motors to begin with on the net. Check this site out: http://www.universitymotorsltd.com/qa.php. He has a great video on how to statically check your timing and set it if you have a points distributor.

Re: 1979 MGB hesitation

I just saw your post and was intrigued by the large advance your engine likes to see. I have a similar requirement. What RPM was your advance measurement made? Any chance your engine was rebuilt with nonstandard camshaft?
BobK